News 11:00

BULLETIN 31 October 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# IFP is confident ahead of the elections, saying its manifesto presents voters with practical solutions
# Mbalula admits Makana Municipality water crisis remains a challenge
# And in Rugby, Muller is drafted into the Stormers’ starting team after Roche’s injury

# The IFP has urged voters to choose leadership committed to accountable governance, transparency, improved service delivery and responsive local government. The party will hold its final Siyanqoba Rally at the Prince Mangosuthu Regional Stadium in Ulundi tomorrow, ahead of the local government elections on Wednesday. IFP’s national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa told the SABC that the party’s Five-Point Manifesto speaks directly to the issues people face:

# The DA says the arrests of former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption head Andrea Johnson and former Crime Intelligence deputy head Feroz Khan raise serious concerns about corruption in South Africa’s law enforcement agencies. The two face charges of defeating the ends of justice. The party’s Glynnis Breytenbach says the allegations have damaged public confidence in IDAC, calling for the unit to be disbanded. Breytenbach repeated her call for an independent anti-corruption body free from the National Prosecuting Authority’s control and political interference.

# Eskom says it is conducting an ongoing, iterative process to strengthen governance and internal control frameworks for contract management and operational emergencies. This follows shortcomings identified during the investigation of diesel procurement and storage contracts. The investigation confirmed instances of non-adherence to the power utility’s processes regarding payments made to certain suppliers under emergency approvals that did not comply with its delegations of authority. Eskom says about 38-billion-rand in irregular expenditure was identified, while stressing that operational pressures do not excuse governance failures.

# ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has conceded that water provision remains a major challenge in the Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The municipality faces a severe, systemic water and sanitation crisis driven by severe drought, failing infrastructure, governance breakdowns, and health hazards. Mbalula has acknowledged criticism directed at the ANC-led municipality over the crisis; government interventions to improve water infrastructure will continue beyond the local government elections:

# Prime minister Mark Carney says Canada is working towards the deepest possible partnership with the European Union, as the country is set to become an associate member of the 27-member bloc by June 2027. The EU and Canada are forging a new partnership called the “Alliance for the Future”, intended to reduce their dependence on major powers such as China and the US. Carney says a stronger Canada-EU alliance will deliver more choice, lower costs for families and create new export markets for businesses:

# Rugby: The Stormers will face Ulster in a United Rugby Championship encounter in Cape Town this afternoon after being forced into a late change to their starting team. Exciting young Junior Springbok Markus Muller will wear the number 12 jersey in place of Jonathan Roche, who is injured. Nineteen-year-old Muller was drafted into the senior Bok squad for next month’s Nations Championship tour of Europe earlier this week. Another new Bok selectee, Yaqeen Ahmed, will play flyhalf alongside experienced Bok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach.

Stay tuned for more news………….